Tom Gates
Liz Pichon
Tom Gates
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
the Music Book
by Liz Pichon
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Ever wonder what it's like to be the king of excuses and doodles all rolled into one? Imagine diving into a homework diary packed with hilarious stories, silly drawings, and the kind of chaos only Tom Gates can create. But just when you think you know what’s coming next, Tom’s world throws a new twist that will have you laughing out loud!
Themes
Quick Assessment
Tom Gates is a funny, diary-style middle-grade fiction book perfect for readers ages 9-12. Filled with humorous doodles, comic stories, and relatable school experiences, it captures the ups and downs of a typical boy’s adventures with a lighthearted tone. The book includes mild school-based humor and some playful mischief, making it suitable for children looking for an entertaining, easy-to-read story.
Why we rated Tom Gates 11C
Tom Gates is written at a Level 6 reading level across 260 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tom Gates works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Tom Gates as 11C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Tom Gates explores humor, friendship, family, school life, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781407189659
- Pages
- 260
- Publisher
- Scholastic Canada
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction